The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-02-20
Printed BY Special arrangement Copyrighted, lss7.l
STRANGER THAN FICTION.
A Virginia Ghost Story.
BY MARION HARLAND.

his walk as he spoke and thrust both hands into
his pockets-"the question, to my mind is does
the advantage of seeing three counties at once on
clear day pay for the fight with winds from all
four quarters at once winter EVENING"
He had spent most of the December day within
doors. In his brisk promenade on the long
porch he glanced, when he passed them, into
the drawing room windows. In the warm area
spread about it by the great fire in the chimney,
he could see two arm chairs set suggestively
near together on the rug. He had sat in one all
the afternoon. His fancy now placed in the
other slight. supple figure, 10 winecolored
gown with soft laces at neck and wrists She
was young and blue-eyed. and had rust-colored
hair with bronzed rpples running through it; in
the cheek next to him was dimple that deep
ened when she laughed. His palm glowed and
pulsated with the remembered warmth of that
which had lain upon it while they talked. He
would marry her in May, God willingly the
time the roses would be in bloom on the bare,
brown sticks over there III the garden. His
home was in Lynchburg, fifty miles away from
the Powhatan plantation purchased six months
ago by Gervas Miller. his prospective father-in-
law, long journey by stage private carriage
in this weather, and over the worst roads in Viz
gina.
John Speed, the "catch" of his native town.
and engaged to the sweetest girl in the world
yet found the air raw, the situation of Round
Hill, noted for its wide outlook, bleak the land
scape dreary Eliza ("Shy" to her family and
friends since her baby-tongue had invented the
pretty substitute for her prosaic name) had gone
upstairs to dress for supper; Mrs. Miller was
busy in her own domain; Mr.. Miller and his two
sons were at the county courthouse. it being
the first Monday in the month the Circuit Court
was in session.
The house was roomy, with long frontage,
village of out buildings shrinking out of sight in
the rear Lesser hills than that on which it
stood rolled away to the Appomattox in one d.
rection, to the James river in another; miles of
leafess forests faded into mistiness with dis
lance on all sides. broken here and there by
pine-woods. murky as ink under the sunless
heavens Nature had wrapped herself in sort
of second mourning robe of dull lead color
and rusty black, unbecoming and depressing.
Broad sere fields crossed by zezag fences lay
near the house, before which row of pale pop
lars shivered with presage of coming storm,
I red clay road bsected the plantation. grazing
the palincs Of the front yard and garden. This
last boundary was lined with a thick hedge of
xwood, and the same in miniature bordered
the circular sweep of the carriage drive and the
paved walk leading from the gate up to the
porch. The damp wind drove in sullen insist
ance against the walls. bent bouehs and shrub
berry westward, and held them thus.
The pedestrian felt his need for the "ccnstitu-
tiona." He must have fallen asleep before the
fire when Shy left him if he had not come out
for breath of fresh air. But as he walked, he
repeated to himself. more GROSSLY than became
happy lover, that while country life might be
well enough at Christmas in a houseful of revel-
ers or in the summer with plenty Of riding
horses at the disposal of nice young people, hi
bernatlon here was a synonym for stagnatlon
He marvelAd how Shy kept her beauty and vi
vacty amid such influences
This the thought in his mind as, turning
at the end of the porch in his twentieth round
he counted them to pass the time-he saw a
man coming up the brick walk. "An odd
igure!" meditated the city beau, but one who
had the bearing of gentleman. A long surtout
of drab CLOTH open and flying back he strobe
forward, showed a blue, close bodied coat
trimmed with brass buttons, ruffied shirt.
soiled and rumped, buff vest, and breaches of
the Same color as the coat Drawn over them
to the knee, pair of p-boots, stained with red
mud completed his attire. He carried riding
whip in his right hand and the wide brim of his
hat wac caught mp rakishly side.
"A queer fossil. even for the middle counties!"
commented John Speed. inly, hating to await
nearer approach and salutation. "He might
have come over with Capt John Smith
Tine stranger assembled the steps deliberately.
paused at the top and wheeled for look at the
landscape. taking off his hat with gesture of
intense weariness-a respondent SLOUGH of the
wall-knt figure that was inexpressibly mourn
full. His complexion as swarthy Gre
ols's-John Speed took note Of details. while he
still hesi.ated to advance and accost him. The
deep eyes shone with red fire, the lower lip was
fast in the savage bite of white, sharp teeth. He
was unshaven, haecard. disheveled His hail
and one eyebrow iron-gray: the other eye
brow black coal, giving sinister cast tt
the corrugated forehead
When he turned swiftly on his heel. and. with
stride, vanished at the hall door, John Speed
followed Instantly. The eccentric visitor nigh
be privileged neighbor, or-he reflected uneas
ily-an escaped lunatic In any case in was his
place to shield the ladies from dsagreeable sur
prise, in the absence of the host and his sons
Casting a glance into the drawing-room win
dows as he hurried by them, he saw the uncere
monious guest throw himself into one of tn
arm-chairs before the fire. The door of tn
room was shut, and as the Lynchburghe
opened it, Trfe, Shys pet spaniel, ran out be
tween his legs, yelping shrilly in pain or terror
and scampered up the staircase. John had
distinct glimpse of the figure crouched toeethe
in the chair. elbows on knees and head in hands
before the dog escaped past him.
'Why, Trife9 Here, Trife!" he called. reas
suringly. What is the matter. old fellow!'
AS the insulteG favorite flashed out of sight
the young man pushed the door back and en-
tered.
Excuse me, sir" he began. laughingly-
Both chairs were empty. Not a creature wa
present except himself!
He made of it by stirring the fire to
glare so vivid that the scene framed by the wiz
dows was swallowed up in blacKness He opene
a cupboard went down on his knees to look ur
der the two massive sofas, and the piano, whic
was set in far corner of the yast room. II
was alone The flames climbed the chimney
back with sonorous roar; the crimson ligf
chased the shadows to the wainscotted walls an
laid long silhouette of himself with waverin
outer lines across the carpet as he stood, battle
and bewildered, on the rug. The rattle Of chin
and silver in the adjoining room received now
vocal accom- paniment, hardly louder than th
fre-sopg. A rich. mellow voice was murmurins
I'VE passing away,
We passing away,
TIA xr;ptar &c Jovft